Chain clamp



F. R. HARRIS Oct. 2,3,v 1945.

CHAIN CLAMP Filed Jah. 10. 1944 ',INVENTOR.4 Frede/vv I?. HarrisPatented oci. :23, 1945 UNITED STATESN PATENT OFFICE CHAIN CLAMPFrederic R. Harris, New York, N. Y.

Application January 10, 1944, Serial No. 517,742 2 Claims. (Cl. 24-116)This Vinvention relates to improvements in clamps for chains; and moreparticularly to a ,clamp for uniting the ends of two lengths or piecesof chain and permitting adjustment by i letting out one or more links;or taking up on the chains, when necessary, toeliminate slackness gtherein.

. An object of the invention is to provide a clamp from. On the drawing,which illustrates a preferred embodiment of the invention:

Figure 1` is a top view of the clamp in operative V position.

. Figure zis a side elevation thereof.

Figure 3 shows two pieces of chain spliced by the clamp and the shacklefor the chain at one mooring pad, to be alxed to the deck of a ship orfloating dry dock, for example; and 2, a length of chain such as thechain for anchoring or otherwise mooring the vessel. The mooring pad ohas an upright lug or bearing 3, to which a shackle 4 is attached by a-bolt or rivet 5. 'Ihe clamp 6 forthe chain includes a pair of links 1,with perforated ends `for bolts 8 and nuts 9. The two .lengths` of chaincompriselinks I D and links l I i `at right angles to the links I;

The clamp is attached `by bolting one end to a link at the end of o nepart of the chain, such as the link I0 at the 'left end of` theclamp inthe drawing; and fastening between the two members or halves of theclamp a link such as the link I0, adjacent the end of the complementarylength of chain, and in the same plane as the rst link,`but

o which has suilicient strength to splice a chain securely, and isadapted to be readily andieasily f connected to the` chain andldisconnected thereunited at both its endsto links H in planes at i rightangles thereto. Said link Ill onthe complementary length of chain isthus gripped between the halves of the clamp; and the outer link I `Igconnected withthis link I0, which lies crosswise of the clamp, then`serves as a stop and prevents disengagement of the chain. All of thechain links are heavy, with a central cross bar I 2 dividing the openinginto apertures` 1 3 which are large enough for the links, but leave noroom for the bolts, except in the case of -the outer or terminal linksI0 of each piece. Assuming that `all `the links engaged by the clamp,such as the links I0, are substantially in the same plane, the

" two lengths of chain can thus be spliced without twisting either, andthus torsional stresses, in addition to tension, can be avoided. Also,in the eventthat either chain is so hung that certain links l0 and II`to be joined on each length lie about in the same plane, then the twolengths of chain can be united by passing the bolts 8 directly throughthe two end links I0 and Il. This feature of the invention is animportant" one; and makes handling easy. Torsion can be avoided, asabove set forth; or with heavy chains, or under circumstances when aquick connection is necessary, the clamp can be rapidly attached to theends as they happen to be presented; either with the links in thepositions shown on the drawings, or with the end link il of the chain atthe right, in the same plane as the link I0 bolted directly to theextremity of the clamp at the left.

The two clamp members 1 have recesses I4 on their inner faces near oneedge to ilt snugly against the end of the free link l I attached to thelink I0 engaged by the clamp.

The invention is especially useful for vessels moored side by side, orin other positions, when the station must be maintained by taking up onthe chains, or letting them out, without casting 01T at either the endsjoined tothe vessel or the iixed point of anchorage or mooring near toit. Under such conditions the chains are shortened or lengthened fromthe deck.

While I have described a specific form of clamp, I, of course, reservethe right to make any changes in details that fall within the scope andspirit of the invention;

Having described my invention, what I believe to be new is:

l. A chain splicing clamp comprising a pair of members disposed side byside, a bolt and nut at one end of said members to attach the latter toa chain link with one end of said link between said members, and a boltand nut at the opposite ends of the latter to holdthem together,embrac-v ing the mid-portion of another link between them, said otherlink being'in the same plane as the first-named link, said membershaving recesses on their inner faces to receive and abut an additionallink united to said other and disconnected from the first-named link.

2. A chain splicing clamp comprising a pair of members disposed sidebyside, a bolt and nut at one end of said members to attach the latter toa chain link with 'one end of said link between said members, and a boltand nut at the opposite ends of the latter to hold them together,embracing the mid-portion of another link between them, said other linkbeing in the same plane as therst-named link, said members havingrecesses on their inner faces to receive and abut an additional linkunited to said other and disconnected from the rst-nanied link, saidadditional link being substantially at right angles to the other two.

i FREDERIC R. HARRIS.

